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On Wednesday 23 October, Laos and France held their bilateral cooperation portfolio meeting, which was chaired by H.E. Ms. Phonevanh Outhavong, Vice Minister of Planning and Investment and H.E. Ms. Siv-Leng Chhuor, French Ambassador to the Lao PDR.
The meeting came at an important time following the recent presidential meeting between Lao PDR and France. This portfolio review brought together numerous partners from the Lao government, notably from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, as well as some key cooperation partners CIRAD, EFEO, IRD, WCS etc. During the meeting, participants have heard and exchanged view points on the successes and challenges of the ongoing projects and learnt about the projects in the pipeline for the years 2025-2026.
This meeting was an opportunity to recall thirty years of good cooperation between Laos and France through its development agency Agence Française de Développement (AFD) in many sectors such as rural development, agriculture, heritage and sustainable tourism development. These thirty years of cooperation of AFD in Laos have allowed the realization of over €300 million through 90 development projects, implemented by Lao authorities, technical partners and different French actors.
H.E. Ms Phonvanh Outhavong took note with full appreciation the close and strong coordination between AFD, the Embassy of France to Lao PDR and the Government in ensuring the smooth implementation of the projects as well as assistance to the Lao PDR in the Implementation of the 9th National Socio-Economic Development Plan (2021-2025) and support on the formulation of the 10th NSEDP (2026-2030).
During the gathering, H.E. Ms Siv-Leng Chhuor noted that 2024 was a record year for the granting and signing of new financing agreements totaling more than €19.6 million. In particular, €6 million was committed to heritage preservation and local development in Champasak and Savannakhet, €9 million of co-financing from the EU to support the tea and coffee sectors for farmers in the Northern provinces of Laos and €5 million to extend rural development activities and irrigation infrastructure in Khammouane province.
Mr. Jean-Pierre Marcelli, AFD's Regional Director in South-East Asia, presented the key sectors on which AFD Group will be focusing over the next two years, namely water resource management and support for the hydroelectric sector, innovative financing for biodiversity protection and adaptation to climate change.
Several projects are being appraised, including a project to support the establishment of a coordination center for water flows from hydropower dams and a project to support the Ministry of Industry and Trade with a view to improve women's economic empowerment and promoting gender equality.
Press contacts :
Clara VIDAL – AFD : vidalc1@afd.fr
Apolline GARNIER – French Embassy : apolline.garnier@diplomatie.gouv.fr